NES Classic gets a tool for custom ROMs thanks to hackers

As retro video gaming has become vintage and nostalgic for many adults who grew up with older consoles, several companies have attempted to cash in on popular older games and systems over the course of the past few years.

One such retro product release is the NES Classic, a miniature version of the Nintendo Entertainment System that lets users play up to 30 different classic Nintendo games. Following the NES Classic’s release, hackers quickly set out to see if they could find a way to play any NES game on to the system.

Now, a group of enterprising Nintendo fans have put together a rather complicated set of instructions that installs other games on the console via USB. It’s not too difficult to find NES games online that have been digitally ripped from the classic system’s cartridges if you know where to look. Keep in mind, however, that the legality of most ROMs are questionable. Once you have the game ROM, you’ll just have to follow a set of instructions on Pastebin to play any NES game you want.

Obviously, if you’re making modifications to your system like this, especially if you’re not too well-versed in this kind of thing, you run the risk of damaging or bricking your NES Classic. It might be easier to find somebody selling an actual NES console and games than to make these changes. But for some fans, the thrill of the challenge will definitely be worth it.

I was wondering about that myself but this article doesn’t specifically give instructions, it just points to the link at Pastebin. It is technically legal to use ROMs of games you own with emulators. However most companies state that tampering with or reverse engineering of their hardware is prohibited so there lies the issue.

Bac0nTelevis0n

I had a close friend running a ROM dump site from 1998 to roughly 2005 (which was shut down for legal reasons) while he ran a very successful IRC channel on Efnet simultaneously. There is nothing legal about it. I’m not a prude, but lets stop the misinformation on the topic. This is not a attack on you, this is for everyone to read, educate, and be familiar with the subject.

As mentioned, its up to the user of the device to reverse engineer (expliot/hack/jailbreak or whatever stupid term kids are using these days) to run the image dump. This article just brings the information to the masses that such software now exists in the wild.

——

Can I Download a Nintendo ROM from the Internet if I Already Own the Authentic Game?

There is a good deal of misinformation on the Internet regarding the backup/archival copy exception. It is not a “second copy” rule and is often mistakenly cited for the proposition that if you have one lawful copy of a copyrighted work, you are entitled to have a second copy of the copyrighted work even if that second copy is an infringing copy. The backup/archival copy exception is a very narrow limitation relating to a copy being made by the rightful owner of an authentic game to ensure he or she has one in the event of damage or destruction of the authentic. Therefore, whether you have an authentic game or not, or whether you have possession of a Nintendo ROM for a limited amount of time, i.e. 24 hours, it is illegal to download and play a Nintendo ROM from the Internet.

— Source: nintendo((.))com/corp/legal.jsp#roms

Bob Loblaw

Calm your tits

JP

Ya I don’t care who does and doesn’t use ROMs. My comment was directed at simply keeping users informed that what they are doing is not entirely legal. What they do with that information is their choice but it’s irresponsible for a site like MobileSyrup to not inform users of that.

Jonathan G.

And now the issue becomes who is still selling these consoles (in store) that I can buy at a reasonable price?

Shogun

It’s January already and still you can’t find this console anywhere save eBay where its marked up 200% over the retail price. Nintendo really bungled this up and the idea they are going to announce the Switch this month is laughable.A person is better off ordering an original console from an eBay seller for around $150 with a selection of games included than playing around with ROM’s and trying to tweak a device that isn’t designed for such, presents great risks for destroying it in fact and where its moot anyways since you can’t buy this thing anywhere.

Rev0lver

OK. You’ve said this same comment on every article that’s mentioned Nintendo in the past two months. Everyone knows your opinion on the NES classic, no need to reiterate it.

dc2000

Yeah, no kidding! shesh..

Shogun

Revolver is a goof. Nothing to say about anything other than to troll me on stories. Pathetic really

Rev0lver

Not as pathetic as “ignoring” me but responding to my comments anyway….

Also, personal attacks are against the community guidelines. Try and control yourself sir.

Chug that haterade

Pretty much the whole 60+ comment exchange between he and I in the other article was removed. Not sure why my comments were deleted as I didn’t make any inappropriate comments or personal attacks.